agm batteries

[johns4104]

I have been looking and AGM batteries and a lot of them have a cca as well as a ah rating.
Does that mean they can be used as start batteries as well as house batteries?
not all agm have the cca rating, are those only good for house batteries.

may be I can simplify things, less batteries, less space, weight and wiring and only have a couple of agm batteries to do both.
I know don't run them down to far or i will be stranded.
I can always take my tractor battery with me to start the generator to charge the big batteries.

thanks,
John 4104

[TomC]

Because Diesels with their high compression need alot of battery to get them started.  This is why you want to have separate starting and house batteries.  You could do what I did which was to replace the two 8D starting batteries with two 950cca size 31 truck starting batteries.  They start the engine fine, and if I do need to turn it over more, I have a jumper solenoid that I can activate with a switch on the dash to connect the two 8D AGM deep cycles to help with starting.  I have started the bus on just the deep cycles when the starting batteries went south.  With your bus you could do a little reverse wiring.  Keep the two 8D batteries where they are and make them the house batteries, then create a new battery rack for 2 or 3 size 31 starting batteries-it will ultimately take less space.  Good Luck, TomC

[johns4104]

Tom,
I was trying to use the original 2 8d battery trays. maybe i will go with 2 31s for starting and 4 smaller agms for house batteries.

Thanks,
John 4104

[HB of CJ]

Sometimes, but not always, if a AGM "house" battery has an advertised cold cranking amp rating, then the battery may be designed (not always) to be a "duel purpose" type of battery.

What this MAY mean is that it is neither an apple or an orange, but something in between.  Generally speaking, house batts work better if they are a dedicated deep cycle type.

Starting batts usually (almost always?) work best if they are expressedly designed to crank engines and are NOT intended nor designed to be employeed as a house string.

The interior construction of the Advanced Gas Matt may be different, depending upon the desired type of application.  If it were me, I would stay away from a "duel use" type.

A genuine deep cycle house batt may not even have a cold cranking rating.  And a starting batt may have a "reserve rating" but that's for employing running lights while parked.

Leave the cranking batts to the exact type designed to do sosss.  The 'house" AGM's can be a dedicated "deep cycle" batt designed for such use.  Good luck. 

[Sean]

... the Advanced Gas Matt may be different...

That would be "Absorbed Glass Matt."  Advanced Gas is what I get if I eat too many legumes.

-Sean
http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com

[HB of CJ]

Absorbed, absorbed, absorbed.  That is what I said.  I know I said it.  I'm soosss sure I said that that only now will I read what I posted in my prior perfect post. So there.

Absorbed....aborbed....aborted...advanced?  ADVANCED!?  AUUUGHHHHHH!!!  I NEVER make mistakes and my sppeeling is worded perfect.  Oh well!!!